NCAA Football Roundup / Top 25

DeVon Edwards of Duke (27) is congratulated by Deondre Singleton, right, and Breon Borders (31) after his interception on the final play of Saturday's game against North Carolina at Chapel Hill, N.C. Duke won 27-25.

Published December 01. 2013 12:01AM

No. 2 Florida State 37, Florida 7

Jameis Winston threw three touchdown passes to Kelvin Benjamin, and Florida State moved a step closer to playing for the national championship with a victory against rival Florida on Saturday.

The Seminoles improved to 12-0 for the first time since 1999 and likely will earn a spot in the Bowl Championship Series title game by beating Duke in the Atlantic Coast Conference championship game next Saturday.

Florida, meanwhile, ended its worst season since 1979.

The Gators (4-8) lost their final seven games and missed a bowl for the first time since 1990. Florida's bowl streak had been the second-longest in the country, behind Florida State.

The Seminoles were four-touchdown favorites in this lopsided matchup - that lived up to advance billing.

Although the outcome was never in doubt, the Gators made it interesting early with some stout defense. They hit Winston several times, even late once, and stuffed FSU's running game.

But with its offense floundering once again - Florida managed just three first downs in the first half - the defense eventually wore down.

No. 10 South Carolina 31, No. 6 Clemson 17

Connor Shaw threw for one touchdown and rushed for another as South Carolina won its record fifth straight over Clemson.

The Gamecocks (10-2) won their 18th straight at home, extending a school record set earlier this year. For Shaw, it capped the senior's home career at a perfect 17-0 as a starter in the sweetest way possible.

The Tigers (10-2) had never lost five consecutive games to their rival in a series that began in 1896 - which they still lead 65-42-4 all-time. The loss also left record-setting quarterback Tajh Boyd 0-for-4 against the Gamecocks.

South Carolina put things away with two touchdowns in the fourth quarter to break away from 17-all tie. Mike Davis had a 2-yard scoring run with 11:47 left and Pharoh Cooper threw a 26-yard TD pass to Brandon Wilds.

No. 8 Stanford 27, No. 25 Notre Dame 20

Wayne Lyons intercepted two passes from Tommy Rees late in the fourth quarter, and Stanford held off Notre Dame in the regular-season finale for both teams.

The Cardinal (10-2) overcame two interceptions from Kevin Hogan and a penalty that wiped away another touchdown to win their 16th consecutive home game. Stanford will play for its second straight Pac-12 title and Rose Bowl berth next week when it faces No. 13 Arizona State in the conference championship game.

Tyler Gaffney ran for 189 yards and a touchdown, and Hogan threw for 158 yards and TD pass to Devon Cajuste to help the Cardinal take a 21-6 lead in the third quarter.

Rees nearly rallied the Fighting Irish (8-4) by throwing two touchdown passes later in the quarter. But interceptions on Notre Dame's final two drives dashed Notre Dame's come back.

No. 9 Baylor 41, TCU 38

Bryce Petty threw for two touchdowns and ran for another, Baylor returned two interceptions for scores and the Bears hung on for a victory over Texas Christian.

The Bears (10-1, 7-1 Big 12) scored 21 straight points on either side of halftime with just 1 yard from their high-powered offense and bounced back from a blowout loss at Oklahoma State to maintain their hopes for a share of the conference title.

Baylor could win the league outright and qualify for a BCS bid, likely the Fiesta Bowl, if it beats Texas and the Cowboys lose to Oklahoma next Saturday.

The Horned Frogs (4-8, 2-7) were in position to tie in the final seconds, but Casey Pachall threw his third interception on a pass tipped by receiver Brandon Carter and grabbed by Baylor's Terrell Burt in the end zone with 11 seconds left.

The Baylor offense had running backs Lache Seastrunk and Glasco Martin for the first time after both missed two games with injuries, but the Bears still finished 292 yards off their nation-leading average of 662. They were outgained 410-370 as Baylor finished with a season low.

Seastrunk had 92 yards against the Big 12's best rushing defense in the first half, but just 2 after halftime.

No. 11 Michigan State 14, Minnesota 3

Jeremy Langford ran for 134 yards and a touchdown, and Michigan State wrapped up an unbeaten regular season in Big Ten play with a victory over Minnesota.

The Spartans (11-1, 8-0) finished a perfect Big Ten regular season for only the third time. They also did it in 1965 and 1966, when they only had to play seven conference games.

Michigan State will face Ohio State in the Big Ten championship game next weekend. The Spartans had already wrapped up the Legends Division title, but there was no letdown against Minnesota (8-4, 4-4).

Penn St. 31, No. 14 Wisconsin 24

Christian Hackenberg threw for 339 yards and four touchdowns, and Penn State pounced on a slew of blunders before holding off a late rally to upset Wisconsin.

Hackenberg, a freshman, showed the poise and touch of a veteran in dissecting a tough defense. Eugene Lewis caught two touchdowns, including a 59-yarder for a 17-point lead with 13 minutes to go.

The Nittany Lions (7-5, 4-4 Big Ten) secured a statement win against a team that had been dominant all year at home. Joel Stave threw for three touchdowns for Wisconsin (9-3, 6-2), though Penn State capitalized on second-half interceptions, turning one into Lewis' long TD.

No. 24 Duke 27, North Carolina 25

Ross Martin kicked a 27-yard field goal with 2:22 left and Duke beat North Carolina, completing the Blue Devils' improbable run to reach the Atlantic Coast Conference championship game.

Anthony Boone threw for 274 yards and two touchdowns to Jamison Crowder as the Blue Devils (10-2, 6-2 ACC) clinched the Coastal Division championship with their eighth straight victory. DeVon Edwards' interception with 13 seconds left clinched the long-suffering program's first 10-win season.

Duke will face No. 2 Florida State next weekend in Charlotte, where the heavy underdog Blue Devils will go for their first ACC crown since 1989.

Duke led 24-15 in the third quarter but needed to rally to beat the rival Tar Heels (6-6, 4-4).

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